An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk

Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to study the epidemiology of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in raw milk and molecular characterization of isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 125 raw milk samples were subjected to iso...

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Main Authors: H. D. Vanitha, C. Sethulekshmi, C. Latha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Veterinary World 2018-08-01
Series:Veterinary World
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.11/August-2018/22.pdf
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author H. D. Vanitha
C. Sethulekshmi
C. Latha
author_facet H. D. Vanitha
C. Sethulekshmi
C. Latha
author_sort H. D. Vanitha
collection DOAJ
description Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to study the epidemiology of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in raw milk and molecular characterization of isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 125 raw milk samples were subjected to isolation, identification, and confirmation of virulence-associated genes by multiplex PCR (mPCR). The samples were collected from a milk cooperative society of Thrissur district, Kerala. For further epidemiological investigation, samples such as dung (126), hair coat of cow (60), udder swab (60), udder wash (60), milking utensil wash (36), Milker's hand wash (36), water (36), soil (36), and feed (36) were collected from the households from which the raw milk tested positive for EHEC. Results: The occurrence of EHEC in individual raw milk samples was found to be 8.8%. The major source of contamination to raw milk was found to be dung (19.84%) followed by udder swab (16.67%), hair coat of cow (15%), Milker's hand and milking utensils and water (11.11% each), and udder wash and soil (8.33% each). For identification of virulence genes, all the isolates were subjected to mPCR, of 75 isolates 73.33% of isolates harbored stx 2 gene while 53.33, 36, and 36% of isolates were encoded by stx 1, eae A, and hly A genes, respectively. On epidemiological survey, the multiple risk factors accountable for occurrence of EHEC in raw milk were found to be the quality of water used, improper and inadequate udder preparation, unhygienic hands of Milker's, use of insufficiently cleaned milking utensils, and using common utensil for washings of udder and milking purposes. Conclusion: The result of the present study signifies that raw milk was contaminated with EHEC and possesses a high public health threat. As dairy cattle and its environment serve as a potential niche for EHEC, hygienic milking practices should be adopted to curb the occurrence of EHEC in raw milk.
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spelling doaj.art-49b6a94fd8cc41f89553c43902d2af7e2022-12-21T20:02:06ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162018-08-011181164117010.14202/vetworld.2018.1164-1170An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milkH. D. Vanitha0C. Sethulekshmi1C. Latha2Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur - 680 651, Kerala, India.Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur - 680 651, Kerala, India.Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur - 680 651, Kerala, India.Aim: The aim of the present investigation was to study the epidemiology of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in raw milk and molecular characterization of isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 125 raw milk samples were subjected to isolation, identification, and confirmation of virulence-associated genes by multiplex PCR (mPCR). The samples were collected from a milk cooperative society of Thrissur district, Kerala. For further epidemiological investigation, samples such as dung (126), hair coat of cow (60), udder swab (60), udder wash (60), milking utensil wash (36), Milker's hand wash (36), water (36), soil (36), and feed (36) were collected from the households from which the raw milk tested positive for EHEC. Results: The occurrence of EHEC in individual raw milk samples was found to be 8.8%. The major source of contamination to raw milk was found to be dung (19.84%) followed by udder swab (16.67%), hair coat of cow (15%), Milker's hand and milking utensils and water (11.11% each), and udder wash and soil (8.33% each). For identification of virulence genes, all the isolates were subjected to mPCR, of 75 isolates 73.33% of isolates harbored stx 2 gene while 53.33, 36, and 36% of isolates were encoded by stx 1, eae A, and hly A genes, respectively. On epidemiological survey, the multiple risk factors accountable for occurrence of EHEC in raw milk were found to be the quality of water used, improper and inadequate udder preparation, unhygienic hands of Milker's, use of insufficiently cleaned milking utensils, and using common utensil for washings of udder and milking purposes. Conclusion: The result of the present study signifies that raw milk was contaminated with EHEC and possesses a high public health threat. As dairy cattle and its environment serve as a potential niche for EHEC, hygienic milking practices should be adopted to curb the occurrence of EHEC in raw milk.http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.11/August-2018/22.pdfEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coliepidemiological investigationepidemiological surveymultiplex polymerase chain reactionraw milk
spellingShingle H. D. Vanitha
C. Sethulekshmi
C. Latha
An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
Veterinary World
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
epidemiological investigation
epidemiological survey
multiplex polymerase chain reaction
raw milk
title An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
title_full An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
title_fullStr An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
title_full_unstemmed An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
title_short An epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in raw milk
title_sort epidemiological investigation on occurrence of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli in raw milk
topic Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
epidemiological investigation
epidemiological survey
multiplex polymerase chain reaction
raw milk
url http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.11/August-2018/22.pdf
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